The Twins just got back over .500 (again) while a top prospect is starting to heat up.

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There was a lot going on in the minor leagues today. You can read about it and catch up (or comment) here.

After taking in three Kernels games in Cedar Rapids, Seth is driving back to reality tonight. So I'm pinch-writing.

Like any back-of-the-rotation starter, you'll have to put up with me once (and sometimes twice) a week. I'm on Twitter, if you're into that sort of thing. But my baby is tracking the Major League payroll and all of the organizational rosters. I call it the R&P (Roster & Payroll) page and update it frequently to answer all of your burning questions. I'm also pretty heavy into the MLB Draft. Sometime soon here I plan to start bugging Seth into letting me do a Draft Chat, what do you think about that idea?

But enough about me, let's take a spin around the farm:

Ft. Myers Miracle 10, Bradenton Marauders 6

Box Score

The bats were alive in Fort Myers and the Miracle will look to complete a four-game sweep tomorrow afternoon.

Though Miguel Sano didn’t hit a home run, he did go 3-for-4 with a double and a walk. He scored three runs and the report was that he looked great at 3B. Eddie Rosario, who got off to a cold start, had two hits tonight including his first home run. He also scored two runs.

The Michael Gonzales-Kennys Vargas-Lance Ray part of the order drove in six runs on five hits. Gonzales homered, the other two doubled.

Matthew Summers got the start and went four innings. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Making a relief appearance was Adrian Salcedo. Salcedo has been regarded as a highly-ranked starting pitcher, but has missed significant time with various injuries. Tonight, he allowed two runs on three hits in two innings. All of his outs were recorded on the ground. He still is someone to watch as far as “prospect status” goes and his role this year bears watching.

Ryan O’Rourke picked up his second win of the year. He struck out two in two innings.

Closing it out (in a non-save situation) was Zack Jones, who struck out one in a perfect ninth.

Rochester Red Wings 2, Buffalo Bisons 9

Box Score

A chilly Home Opener in Rochester saw the Red Wings drop their third straight game and second straight home opener to Buffalo.

Shairon Martis threw only 29 of 69 pitches for strikes and only lasted three innings. His four walks and four hits allowed amounted to two earned runs. He struck out one.

The bullpen – starting with Bruce Pugh – didn’t provide much help. Pugh allowed three hits and two earned runs while only recording one out. Caleb Thielbar got the Red Wings through the sixth. He struck out four, but also allowed two more earned runs. Luis Perdomo allowed four hits, four walks and – you guessed it – two more runs in 1 1/3 innings. Daniel Turpen got the final five outs, but also allowed a run on two hits and two walks. He struck out two.

Offensively, the story of the game was walks. Rochester play-by-play announcer Josh Whetzel tweeted after the game that in the MLB since 1916 only 14 teams have lost a nine inning game while coaxing 11 walks, like Rochester did today, and scoring two or less runs. As you can probably guess, the Red Wings did poorly with runners in scoring position (1-for-10).

Chris Colabello was the only player with a multi-hit game (two singles). Oswaldo Arcia went hitless and Eric Farris, making his Red Wings debut, went 0-for-4 after pinch-hitting for Ray Olmedo in the 4^th inning.

Sunday’s original starter, Pedro Hernandez, was promoted and will start for the Twins. Virgil Vasquez, who was originally slated to pitch Monday, will pitch tomorrow. Buffalo will send Tyson Brummett to the mound.

New Britain Rock Cats 5, Richmond Flying Squirrels 7

Box Score

The Rock Cats got all of their offense from two players – Daniel Ortiz and Harold Garcia.

Ortiz went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and a run. Harold Garcia had two hits, including a two-run home run.

Pat Dean got the start and lasted four innings. He allowed seven hits, two walks and five runs (four earned). He struck out two.

Relieving Dean was TwinsDaily’s Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year last year: A.J. Achter. Achter struck out two and walked two in two innings.

Marty Popham took the loss for allowing two runs in the seventh.

Nelvin Fuentes hit a batter, but otherwise went unscathed in the eighth.

Tomorrow the Rock Cats will look to even the four-game series with Richmond. They will be doing so with Alex Meyer making his Twins minor league debut. This is definitely a game Twins prospect-watchers will have their eye on.

Cedar Rapids Kernels 1, Beloit Snappers 2

Box Score

After two exciting wins, the Kernels struggled to get going and failed to match their dramatic victory of last night.

Super-prospect Byron Buxton went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. He’s now batting .455.

Jorge Polanco drove in the lone run with an RBI double in the 8^th innings. Candido Pimental and Niko Goodrum added singles. Pimentel and J.D. Williams each stole a base.

2012 2^nd round pick, Mason Melotakis, has started his conversion from relief pitcher to starting pitcher. He worked into the fifth, recording one out, while giving up only two runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out two. Melotakis was throwing in the low-to-mid-90s while working quickly, according to Seth. Worth noting, Melotakis recored 10 groundball outs, compared to only 1 flyball out.

The Kernels got a great showing from their bullpen, ironically enough, from two former Snappers starters – Matt Tomshaw and Manuel Soliman.

Tomshaw came in to relieve Melotakis after Melotakis issued a walk to start the 5^th innings. He did allow two hits and two walks, but he struck out four in 2.2 scoreless innings.

Soliman made his second appearance of the year and allowed three hits, but no runs, while recording six outs.

Another college reliever, Tyler Duffey, will make his pro debut as a starter tomorrow as the Kernels look to clinch the series win.